Mysterious, secret, incomprehensible. Scourge, to punish with a whip made of leather thongs. Unfaltering, fearless. Drapery, curtains, hangings. To that mysterious * realm, where each shall His chamber in the silent halls of death, By an unfaltering* trust, approach thy grave, 80 DAVID'S * LAMENT FOR ABSALOM.-N. P. Willis. NATHANIEL PARKER WILLIS (1817-1867) was born at Portland, Maine, U. S. He was a poet and essayist: best known works are, Pencillings by the Way, an account of his travels in Europe, and Inklings of Adventure. His poems are graceful and pleasing, and replete with happy fancies couched in wellchosen language. Pall, shroud, cover. ing of a dead body. Matchless symmetry, who fled from him. diers for the fight. Sackcloth, a coarse THE pall* was settled. He who slept beneath folds Sank to the still proportions, they betrayed blade, 5 ΤΟ He grasped his 15 As if a trumpet rang; but the bent form And left him with his dead. The king stood still cloth garment, worn Till the last echo died; then, throwing off 20 * David, the son of Isai, was a young shepherd boy, who slew with a sling and a stone the great Philistine giant Goliath. He was afterwards anointed king by Samuel, and became very powerful. He wrote the Book of Psalms, &c. 25 30 The pall from the still features of his child, "Alas! my noble boy! that thou shouldst die! How could he mark thee for the silent tomb, "Cold is thy brow, my son! and I am chill, 35 And hear thy sweet 'My father!' from those 40 And cold lips, Absalom! "The grave hath won thee! I shall hear the Of music, and the voices of the young; But thou no more with thy sweet voice shalt come To meet me, Absalom! "And oh! when I am stricken,* and my heart, Like a bruised reed,* is waiting to be broken, 45 How will its love for thee, as I depart, Yearn for thine ear to drink its last deep token! 50 * It were so sweet, amid death's gathering * To see thee, Absalom! "And now, farewell! 'Tis hard to give thee up, thee ! Eloquence of woe, ut terance of sorrow in beautiful language. Clustering hair. Absalom had very long beautiful hair, of which he was very vain. He was punished for his vanity, how ever, for we are told that when flying from before his father in battle, he was caught by his hair in the branches of an oak. tree, and hung there till Joab came up and killed him, struck with age. Reed, a piece of grass with a jointed stem. Fearn, to long for. I am stricken, I am It were, it would be. Death's gathering gloom, the mist that comes over the eyes of the dying. And thy dark sin! -oh! I could drink the Thy dark sin. Ab cup, If from this woe its bitterness had won thee. May God have called thee, like a wanderer, home, My lost boy, Absalom !” salom's rebellion against his father. Convulsively, with violent trembling or agitation. Composed the pall, arranged the covering of the dead body. He covered up his face, and bowed himself * 55 60 THE The Chief, Roderick Three mighty lakes, Katrine, Achray, and Vennachar; from the last of which the stream in question flows. Target, a shield Lowland, the part of Feud, quarrel Flagging, growing spiritless. SAXON AND THE GAEL.*-Scott. THE Chief in silence strode before, * And here his course the chieftain stayed, Hath led thee safe through watch and ward,* A Chieftain's vengeance thou shalt feel! And thou must keep thee with thy sword." The Saxon paused:-"I ne'er delayed, 5 10 15 20 25 The Saxon and the Gael, James V., King of Scotland (Fitz-James), and Roderick Dhu, a Highland chief, who was a robber and murderer. 30 For thus spoke Fate,* by prophet * bred 35 66 Then, by my word," the Saxon said, Seek yonder brake * beneath the cliff,- To grant thee grace and favour free, 50 * Dark lightning flashed from Roderick's eye- "I thank thee, Roderick, for the word! Proud Chief! can courtesy be shown; 70 Of this small horn one feeble blast Would fearful odds against thee cast. But fear not-doubt not-which thou wilt- Then each at once his falchion * drew; Fate, destiny. Prophet, one who foretells future events. Brake, a place overgrown with ferns or briars, a thicket. Red Murdoch, one of Stirling, a very an- Presumption, pride. Kern, a Highland foot soldier armed with a sword and shield. The word is generally used as a term of contempt. Homage, submission. Carpet knight, one who professes to be a soldier, but who shuns going to battle. This braid, the lock of hair belonging to Blanche of Devan, a half crazed young widow, who was killed by Murdoch, with an arrow intended for Fitz-James. Heath, a place overgrown with short bushes. Cairn,a heap of stones to mark a grave. Falchion, a sword. Scabbard, sheath, sword-case. Dubious, doubtful, not sure. Targe, a target or buckler, a shield. Feint, to pretend to strike one part, whilst really intending to hit another. Gael, a native of the Highlands of Scotland. Maintained, kept up. Tartans, the plaids worn by Scotchmen. Each looked to sun, and stream, and plain, 80 85 90 And showered his blows like wintry rain: 95 Against the winter shower is proof, Invulnerable, not to The foe, invulnerable * still, * Foiled his wild rage by steady skill; 100 Brought the proud Chieftain * to his knee ! "Now yield thee, or by Him who made "Thy threats, thy mercy, I defy! Let recreant* yield, who fears to die.”— Like wolf that dashes through the toil, Like mountain-cat who guards her young, 110 The Gael above, Fitz-James below! 115 |